EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- Three financial experts held a financial seminar "Moneywise in the Military" for Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), members of Commander Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 9 and Naval Station Everett Sailors and families March 16 in the ship's hangar bay.

Nearly 500 Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and family members attended the multimedia seminar which began with three presentations on key financial topics for young Sailors and families, and concluded with a question and answer session.

"Start before you need to start," said Peter Bielagus, an author and certified financial planner who spoke at the seminar. Bielagus warned against confusing unimportant expenditures, such as expensive coffee, with things you truly want such as a nice home or savings for your family.

He also made it clear that even a small amount of savings will grow to thousands of dollars with minimal effort.

"I challenge you to start now. I don't care about the amount of money you save, just that you save something. Even a penny a day."

Holly Petraeus, a Better Business Bureau (BBB) advocate, spoke about fraudulent businesses and other scams aimed at service members. The BBB is the nation's oldest self-regulatory, nonprofit business which allows citizens to enter a business name, check its record or file a complaint at www.bbb.org.

Kelvin Boston, a bestselling author and host of the "Moneywise" television program on PBS, explained the wealth building process as a game, with an important twist, "Even if you decide not to play the game, the game will still play you," said Boston.

"We care about you and your families and want you to have a sound financial plan for your future," said Lincoln's Commanding Officer Capt. John Alexander.

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